The seuenth Age Anno. Dom. 600. Leontius Episc Sophronius Episc S. Isidorus Hispalen Episc Concilium Hispalense 2. Concilium Toletanum 4. Georgius Alexandrinus Episc hic sorte Concilium Braccarense 2. Concilium Toletanum 8. Concilium Braccarense 3. The sixt generall Councell of Constantinople Synodus Trullana Constātinopolitana * The eight Age Anno Dom. 700. Venerabilis Beda S. Ioannes Damascenus The seuenth general Coūcell of Nyce 2. * The ninth Age Anno. Dom. 800. Alcuinus Paulus Diaconus Concilium Moguntinum Ionas Aurelianens Episc Concilium Aquisgranense 1. 2. Haymo Episc Rabanus Episc Concilium Wormatiense Phocius Episc The eight general Councell of Constantinople Ioannes Diaconus Rom. Remigius Antisiod Episc Theophilactus Episc Concilium Triburiense Concilium Nannetens hic force * The eleventh Age Anno Dom. 1000. Burchardus Wormatiensis Episc Concilium Salegūstadiens S. Petrus Damianus Episc S. Lansiancus Episc Concilium Rom. sub Leone 9. cont Petergar Concilium Vercellense sub eodem Concilium Turonense sub Victore 2. Concilium Rom. sub Nicolao 2. Guitmundus Episc Algerus Concilium Rom. sub Gregor 7. contr eundem Berengarium S. Anselmus Episc Oecumenius S. Iuo Carnotensis Episc * The twelfth Age Anno Dom. 1100. Zonaras Rupertus Tuitiensis Gulielmus Abbas S. Bernardus Hugo Victorinus Gratianus Euthymius Concilium Lateran sub Alexandro 3. Lucius 3. Pont. Nicetas Innocentius 3. Pont. * The thirteenth Age Anno 1200. Concilium Lateran magnum sub Innocent 3 S. Thom Aquinas Concilium Lugdunen sub Gregor 10. Gulielmus Durand Episc * The fourteenth age Anno Dom. 1300. Nicephorus Calixtus Concilium Viennense sub Clemenet 5. * The fifteenth Age Anno Dom. 1400. Concilium Constantiense Concilium Basilcense Concilium Florentinum Bessarion Episc Sixtus 4. Pont. * The sixteenth Age Anno Dom. 1500. Concilium Tridentinum A TABLE CONTAINING the order and Summe of the whole Catechisme CHRISTIAN Doctrine consisteth in Wisedome Iustice To Wisedome maie bee referred these Chapters that followe in order CHAP. I. OF FAITH and the CREEDE where amongest other thinges are handled these that followe Of the author of the Apostles Creede q. 5. Of the descending of Christ into Hell q. 13. Of the Markes of the Church that it is Visible q. 18. One q. 18. Holy q. 18. Catholicke q. 18. CHAP. II. OF HOPE and our Lords Praier with the ANGELICALL Salutation as also Of Hope to be ioined with Feare q. 2. Of the Praise of our Blessed LADY q. 15. 16. 17 18 19. Of the Veneration of our Blessed LADY q. 15. 16. 17 18 19. Of the Inuocation of our Blessed LADY q. 15. 16. 17 18 19. CHAP. III. OF CHARITY and the Ten Commaundements Also Whether the Ten Commaundementes doe belong vnto Christians q 6. Whether they may be kepte q. 6. Of the Inuocation of Saintes q. 8. Of the Worshippe of Saintes q. 8. Of the Relickes of Saintes q. 8. Of the Holy-Daies of Saintes q. 8. Of the Images of Christ and the Saintes q. 9. Of the Preceptes of the Church namely Of Traditions Apostolicall Ecclesiasticall q. 1. as followeth Of the Church and her autorty q. 9 10. 16. Of the Bishoppe of ROME and the Church of ROME q. 9. Of Councelles q 11. Of the autority of holy Fathers Ibidem Of the fiue precepts of the Church q. 14. Of the holy Scripture and the interpretation thereof q. 16. CHAP. IIII. OF the SACRAMENTES in generall Of Ceremonies q. 8. Of the Sacrament of Baptisme Of Concupiscence in the Regenerate q. 3. Of the Sacrament of Confirmation Of Chrisme q. 4. Of the Blessed Sacrament Of the Reall Presence q. 4. Of Transubstantiation q 5. Of the adoration thereof q. 6. Of the sacrifice of the MASSE q. 7. Of communicating vnder both kindes q. 8. Of the Sacrament of Penance Of Contrition q. 4. Of Confession q. 5. 6. Of Satisfaction q. 7. 8. Of Purgatory and the faithfull departed q. 9. Of the Sacrament of Extreame-Vnction Of the Sacrament of Orders Whether al Christians be Priestes q. 2 8. Of honour due vnto PRIESTES whether they be good or euill q. 6. 7. Of the Sacrament of Matrimony Of diuorcement q. 3. Of Vowe breakers q. 4. Of the Marriage of Mounks Nunnes Ibidem Of the single life of PRIESTES q. 4. 5. Of VIRGINITY q. 5. and more at large in the question of the Euangelicall Councelles CHAP. V. OF CHRISTIAN IVSTICE The first part of the Chapter 1 Of sinnes in generall 2 Of the seauen deadly sinnes 3 Of Alien sinnes that is of sinnes of other men which by any defaulte of ours doe touche vs. 4 Of the sinnes against the Holy-Ghost 5 Of the sinnes that cry into Heauen 6 Of the purging or expiation of sinne 7 Of small or Veniall-sinnes The second part of the Chapter 1 Three kindes of good Workes where also is intreated Of the fruite of good Workes q. 2. Of Fasting q. 4. and as followeth Of Praier q. 7. and as followeth Of Almes the workes of Mercy q. 10. as followeth 2 The Cardinall vertues 3 The gifts fruits of the Holy-Ghost 4 The eight Beatitudes 5 The Euangelical Counsels of the Gospel Of Euangelical Pouerty Chastity Obedience q. 3. 4. 5. Of Mounkes Religious Orders q. 5. 6 The foure last things of a Man To cōprehend the summe of al Christiā Doctrine in one worde this sentence of Ecclesiasticus is worthy the noting which saith My Sonne coueting WISEDOME Eccli 1 33. conserue IVSTICE and God will giue it vnto thee THE TABLE OF THE APPENDIX 1 Of the fall of the first Man 2 Of the transfusing of Adams sinne into all men 3 Of the remedy of Originall sinne 4 Of the relicks of Original sin in those which are baptised 5 Of the imbecility of nature of the law to iustify mē 6 Of the dispensation and mystery of the comming of Christ 7 Who are Iustified by Christ 8 A description of the Iustification of the wicked man the manner thereof in the state of the Lawe of Grace 9 Of the necessity of preparation to Iustification in those of full age and whereof it riseth 10 The manner of preparation to Iustification 11 What is the Iustification of a wicked Man and what are the causes thereof 12 Howe it is to be vnderstoode that a wicked Man is iustified by Faith and freely 13 Against the vaine confidence of Heretickes 14 Of the increase of Iustification once receiued 15 Of obseruing the Commaundements the necessity and possibilitie thereof 16 That the rashe presumption of Predestination is to be auoided 17 Of the gifte of perseuerance 18 Of those which are fallen of their reparation 19 That by euery mortall sinne Grace is lest but not Faith 20 Of the fruites of Iustification that is to say of the Merite of good workes and of the reason of the same Meritte A Table of the other Questions following 1 Of Hallowed Creatures in the Church 2 Of Pilgrim age vnto he ly places 3 Of Indulgences or Pardons THE FIRST CHAPTER
cap. â—â— the Charitie of God is powred forth in their hartes that are iustified is inherent in theÌ„ And therfore in this iustificatioÌ„ togither with remission of sins a man receiueth by IESVS CHRIST vnto whom he is ingraffed all these thinges infused together to wit FAITH HOPE and CHARITY For FAITH excepte that HOPE and CHARITY bee adioined thereunto neither doth perfectly vnitie with CHRIST nor make a man the liuely meÌ„ber of his body In regarde whereof it is most truely saide Iac. 2 d that FAITH without workes is deade and idle And in Gal. 5 a Chrys ho. 5. in Io. Aug. l. 3. cot 2. ep Pelag. cap. 5. ho. 17. cap. 2 ex 50. lib. 15. Trin. cap. 18 Greg. l. 6. ep 15. Fulg. ep 2. c. 8. de incarn grat Christi c. 26. CHRIST IESVS neither Circumcision auailethe ought nor prepuce but FAITH that worketh by CHARITY This Faith before the Sacrament of Baptisme the Catechumens according to the TraditioÌ„ of the Apostles do demauÌ„d of the Church when they aske Faith which yeeldeth life euerlasting which truely without HOPE and CHARITY FAITH cannot afford And therefore they doe presently heare that word of CHRIST Mat. 19 c If thou wilt enter into life kepe the Commaundementes Therfore receiuing true and Christian Iustice that same euen as the first stole giuen vnto them by Iesus Christ for that which ADAM by his disobedience lost for himselfe vs they are presently after their regeneratioÌ„ coÌ„maunded to keep white vnspotted that they may bring the same before the iudgement seate of our Lord Iesus Christ haue life euerlasting 12. Howe it is vnderstoode that a wicked man by Faith freely is iustified ANd whereas the Apostle Ro. 3 â— Aug. de praedest sanct c. 7. ser 38. de temp saith that a man is iustified by FAITH and freely those wordes are to be vnderstood in that sense which the continuall consente of the Catholike Church hath helde and taught To wit that we are therefore said to be iustified by Faith because Faith is the beginning of mans saluation the foundation and roote of all Iustification Heb. 11 b without the which it is impossible to please God and to come to the societie of his children And we are therefore saide to be iustified Aug. l. 6. Hypog c. 4. l. 1. quaest ad Simplic qu. 2. lib. 1. cont Pelag. et Coelest cap. 31. serm 15. de verb. Apost c. 2. de spir et lit cap. 26. Prosp ad 3. prima dub Gennuen Haimo in Rom. 3. freely because none of all those thinges that goe before iustification whether it be Faith or Workes doe deserue the grace of Iustification For if it be Grace now not of workes otherwise as the same Apostle saith Ro. 11 â— Grace now is not grace 13 Against the vaine confidence of Hereticks ANd although it be necessarie to beleeue that sinnes neither are nor euer haue ben forgiuen but freely through the mercie of God for CHRIST his sake yet must wee saye that to no man which braggeth of a confidence and certaintie of the remission of his sinnes and which resteth only in that either are or euer were sinnes forgiuen whereas euen among Heretikes and Schismatikes this vaine confidence and voide of all pietie may be yea and is in these our daies with great contention is vaunted off against the Catholike Church But neither is this to bee affirmed that those which are truelie iustified ought for to assure themselues without any manner Iob. 9 d Psal 18 c Eccles 9 â— Eccli 5 b Pro 20 b 1. Cor. 4 a Aug. de perf iust cap. 15. in Psal 41 lib. 10. Conf. cap. 32. Hier. ep 127. ad Fabiol mansio 23. Chrys hom 11. in 1. Cor. Theod. in cap. 4. â— Cor. Bern. ep 42. 85. ser 2. in octa Pasch Haimo in cap. 4. ad Cor. Greg. lib. 6 ep 22. Cassian Col. 22. cap. 7. c the 1 question of sinnes against the holy Ghost page 315. of doubte that they are iustified and that no man is absolued from his sinnes and iustified but he who doth assuredly beleeue that he is absolued and iustified and that by this Faith only absolution and iustification is accomplished as though hee that beleeued not that must needs doubt of the promises of Almightie God or of the efficacie of CHRISTS death and Resurrection For as no godly person ought to dout of the mercie of GOD of the meritte of CHRIST and of the vertue and efficacie of the Sacraments so euery man considering himselfe and his owne infirmitie indisposition may iustly haue some feare of his owne grace whereas with certaintie of Faith in which there cannot be any falshood no maÌ„ can know that he hath obtained the Grace of God 14 Of the encrease of Iustification once receiued THey therefore who are thus iustified and made the frendes and Eph. 2 d domesticalls of God going from vertue to vertue Ps 83 b are renued as saieth the Apostle â— Cor. 4. d from day to day that is to say by mortifying Col. 3 a the members of the fleshe and Ro. 6 b Aug. de morib Eccles Cathol cap. vlt. lib. 14. de Trin. c. 17. l. 2. de peccat mer. cap. 7. 13. 17. lib. 6. cont Iul. c. 7. serm 16. de verb. Apost cap. 5. Fulg. ep 4. cap. 3. Bern. ep 91. Conc. Vien Clement ad nostrum de haeret exhibiting them as instrumentes of Iustice vnto sanctification by the obseruation of the commandementes of God and of the Church in that Iustice which they haue receiued by the grace of CHRIST Faith cooperating with good Workes they doe encrease are more iustified as it is written Apoc. 22 c He that is iust let him be iustified yet And againe Eccli 18 c Doe thou not feare to be iustified euen vnto death And again you doe see that by works a man is iustified and not by Faith only And this encrease of Iustice doth the holy Church demand when she praieth Giue vs O Lorde encrease of Faith Iac. 2 d In orat Domin 13. post Pent. Hope and Charitie 15 Of obseruing the Commaundements of the necessity possibility thereof BVt no man although he be iustified ought to thinke himselfe free Mat. 28 d Hier. Beda Theoph. ibidem Aug. lib. 3. cont 2. ep Pelag. cap. 4. Cyp. de vnitat Eccles Conc. Vien in Clem. ad nostrum de haeret See q. 5. of the ten Com. p. 64. q. 1. of the precepts of the Church page 90. froÌ„ obseruing the CoÌ„maundements nor vse that rash speach prohibited Hier. in expla Symb. ad Damas Conc. 2. Araus can 25. by the fathers vnder paine of excommune that the Commandementes of God are impossible to be obserued of a man that is iutified For God doth not commaund Aug. de natura grat c. 43. l. 2. de peccat mer. c. 6. de gratia lib arbit cap. 16. Chry. ho. 8. de poenit Leo. ser 5. de quadr
Chrys lib. 2. de coÌ„punct cord they that thinke themselues to stand let them take heed least they fall and Phil. 2 b Aug. de natura gtatia cap. 27. de dono perseuer cap. 13. let theÌ„ worke their owne saluation with feare trembling in 2. Cor. 6 a b Laboures in Watchings in Almes in Praiers and oblations in Fastings Chastitie For knowing that they are regenerate into the Rom. 52 hope of glorie not yet into glorie they ought to feare the combate which is yet behinde Bern ser 5 in vigil natiuit Dom. ser 5. in Psal Qui habitat meditat cap 14.15 with the worlde the flesh and the deuill In which combate they cannot be conquerours except being holpen with the grace of God they obey the Apostle saying We are debters not to the flesh Ro. â— c to liue according to the fleshe For if you liue according to the flesh you shall die But if by the spirite you mortifie the deeds of the fleshe you shal liue 18 Of them that are fallen their reparation BVt they which by sinne haue fallen froÌ„ the receiued grace of iustificatioÌ„ may Aug ho 50 ex 50. â—â— de quaest 1. 2. of the Sacrament of Penance be iustified again wheÌ„ Almighty God stirring theÌ„ vp by the SacrameÌ„t of Penance through the merits of Christ they shal procure to recouer the lost grace For this maner of Iustification is the reparation of him that is falne which the holy Fathers haue Vide of the Sacrament of Penance quaest 2. 199. aptlie called the second Table after the shipwracke of the losse of grace For in the behalfe of them that doe fall into sinne after Baptisme Christ Iesus hath instituted the Sacracrament of Penance when he saide Io. 20 c ibid. quaest 1. pag. 197. Receiue ye the holy Ghost whose sinnes you shall forgeue they are forgiuen them and whose you shall retaine they are retained And therfore we must say that the Penance of a Christian man after his fall is farre different from that of Baptisme And that therein is contained not only a ceasing from sinne and a detestation thereof or a contrite Psal 50. See pag. 199 201. and humble hart but also that See qu. 3. 6. ibideÌ„ Sacramentall confession is to be made of the same at the least in desire and at due time and there is necessarie also the absolution of a Priest as also satisfaction See qu. 7. 8. ibideÌ„ by Fasting Almes Praiers and other deuout exercises of a spirituall life not certes for the euerlasting paine which either by the Sacrament or by the desire of the Sacrament is remitted together with the faulte but for the temporall punishment which as Num. 12 d â— Reg. 12 c 24 b See quâ—est 7. pag. 210. the holie Scripture doth teach is not as it is in Baptisme wholly remitted vnto them which being vngratfull vnto the grace of God which they once receiued haue Eph. 4 g contristated the holy Ghost haue not bene afraide 1. Cor. 3 d to violate the Temple of Almightie God Of which penance it is written Apo. 2 b Be mindfull from whence thou art fallen doe Penance and doe the first works And againe 2. Cor. 7 c The sorow that is according to God worketh Penance vnto saluation which is stable And againe Mat. â— c Doe Penance Luc. 3 c And yelde fruites worthie of Penance 19 That by euery mortal sinne grace is lost but not Faith ANd against the subtile deuises of some men who by sweete speaches Ro. 16 c benedictions doe seduce the harts of Innocents we must affirme that not only by infidelitie by which euen Faith it selfe is lost but also by euery other Iac. 2 b Bas lib. 1. de Baptis par 2 lib. 2 c. 9. mortall sinne whatsoeuer although Mat. 7 c d 25 a Luc. 12. f Io. 12 g 1. Cor. 13 a Iac. 2 c d Aug. lib. 15. de Trin. cap. 18. tract 10. in ep Io. Fulgent de incar gratia Christi c. 26. Faith be not lost yet the receiued grace of Iustificacion is lost defending hereby the doctrine of Gods lawe which excludeth from the Kingdome of God not only Infidells but also the Faithfull that are 1. Cor. 6 b Gal. 5 c d Ephes 5 b Apoc. 21 c Fornicatours Aduouterers Effeminate Liers with mankind Theues Couetous persons Drunkerdes Railers Extortioners and all others that coÌ„mitt mortall sinne froÌ„ which they may with the helpe of Gods grace abstaine and for which they are separated from the grace of Christ. 20 Of the fruite of Iustification that is to say of the merit of good workes of the reason of the same merit THerefore vnto those persons that are by these meanes Iustified whether they haue perpetually preserued the grace receiued or recouered it againe being lost these words of the Apostle are to be proposed 1. Cor. 15 g Abound ye in euerie good worke knowing that your labour is not vaine in our Lord. Heb. 6 b For god is not vniust that he should forget your worke and loue which you haue shewed in his name And Heb. 10 g Doe not leese your confidence which hath a great remuneration And therefore to such as worke well to the end and hope in Almighty God life euerlasting is to be proposed both as a grace mercifully promised through IESVS CHRIST to the sonnes of God and as a reward Aug. de grat de lib. arbit c. 8. 9. epist 105. 52. l. 1. cont aduersa â—eg Proph. c. 16. de morib Eccles Cathol c. 25 de correp gratia c. 13. tract de Epicur Stoicis c. 3. Cypr. de oper Eleemosy ep 56. 60. Chrys ho. 42 in Gen. ho. 43. in 1. ad Cor. Greg. ho. 17. in Euang. also by the promise of God himselfe faithfully to be rendered to their good workes and desertes For this is that crowne of Iustice which after his conflict and course the 2. Tim. 4 b Aug. ho. 14. ex 50. cap. 2. in Psal â—â— tract 3. in Ioan. Theoph. Oecum in cap. 4. ep 2. ad Tiâ— Apostle saide was laid vp for himselfe to be rendered vnto him by the iust Iudge and not only to him but also to all those that loue his comming For whereas Christ IESVS himselfe doth continuallie instill vertue into the iustified as the head into the members and the vine into the branches which vertue alwaies goeth before accompanieth followeth Conc. 2. Araus can 18. Aug. de correp gratia cap. 13. de grat lib. arbit cap. 6. ser 15 de verb. Apost cap. 2. Fulg. lib. 1. ad Moni cap. 11.12 their good workes and without which those workes can by no meanes be gratefull to God and meritorious it is to be thought that there is nothing now wanting vnto the iustified but that with those works which are done Io. 3 c in god they may bee deemed according to the state conditon of this life fully to haue satisfied the law of
sym ca. 7. to sitte at the right hande of his Father This ioyful ascensioÌ„ of Christ is the assurance of our faith and hope so that whither the heade hath gone before when once his enemies are vanquished thither the members also so that (c) Heb. 5 9. Ro. 8 17. 2. Tim. 2 11 Io. 15 6. they obay cleaue to their head may haue great hope to attaine (d) Io. 14 2. I go saith he to prepare you a place 15 What doth the seueÌ„th Article insinuate FroÌ„ thence he shal come to Iudge Ps 6 2. Esa 3 13. 66 15. IT setteth before our eies the latter day of Iudgement wheÌ„ Christ shal descend in humane fleshe from the highest Heauen Io. 5 22.26 Soph. 1 14. Mal. 4 1. Ioel. 3 1. and shal sitte in dreadful doome iudgment ouer the whole worlde and in the open face thereof shall render vnto euerie one according to his woorkes Therefore (a) Mat. 25 31. et 24 11 Luc. 21.25 Act. 1 42. 1. Thes 4 15. et 5 2. 1. Cor 15 51. 2. Thes 2 1. 2. Pet. 3 3. in the seate throne of his Maiesty he shal iudge al without exception good bad aswell those that shall bee aliue when the daie of iudgement shall come as those that were before departed out of the worlde Whereby wee are admonished to liue so much more warely vprightly by howe much more certainly we are persuaded that al the actions (b) Mat. 12 36 Sap. 1 8. Esa 66 18 Ecâ—â—e 12 14 Ro. 2 14. Ap. 20 11. Basil ep ad Virg. lap thoughts and designements of our life are alwaies apparant before the presence of almightie God that seeth all thinges and iudgeth theÌ„ most righteously For he is a righteous and iust searcher of (c) Hic 17 9. Heb. 4 12. Gal 6 5. 1. Thes 4 6. Eccle. 12 14 2 Cor. 5 10 Ro. 14 10. hearts and reuenger of iniquities before whose Tribunal we must all bee presented that euerie one may receiue at his hand accordingly as he hath behaued himselfe in his body be it wel or euil Who will neither (d) Mat. 10 40. Iob. 24 12. defraud any thing well done in this life of dewe reward nor let any euil deeds escape vnpunished 16 What is the summe of the Articles of the second person in Deity THis Io. 1 1 1â—.34 1. Ioa. 5 20. Eph. 1 7. that Christ is true God man who began and brought to passe the woonderfull worke of mans Redemption so that hee is vnto vs the (a) Io. 14 6. Ro. 5 6. Apoc. 1 5. 1. Tim. 2 5. Ro. 3.24 Way Trueth and Life by whom only when we had all perished we were saued and restored and reconciled vnto God the Father Of the benefite and true vse of which Redemption we finde thus written (b) Tit. 2 11 The grace of God our Sauiour hath appeared to all men instructing vs that denying impiety worldly desires we liue soberly iustly godly in this world expecting the blessed hope and aduent of the glory of the great God our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST who gaue himselfe for vs that he might redeeme vs from all iniquity might cleanse to himselfe a people acceptable a pursuer of good workes These bee the wordes of the Apostle S. PAVL in (c) Eph. 2 10. another place We are the worke of God created in Christ Iesus in good workes which God hath prepared that we should walke in theÌ„ And again (d) 2. Cor. 5 15. Christ died for all that they also which liue may not now liue to themselues but to him that died for them rose againe Wherfore we must take diligent heede of the erronious opinion of those that doe confesse Christ not wholly and perfitely but as it were lame and maimed whilest they doe only acknowledge him as a (e) 1. Tim. 2 5. Ro. 3 24. Mediatour and Redeemer in whome we may trust but doe not withall admit him for a (f) Esa 33 22. Iac. 4 12. Io. 13 15.34 1. Io. 2 6. 1. Pet. 2 21. Lawe-maker whose commaundements we must obay and a patterne of all vertue which wee must imitate and a iust Iudge who surely is to repay the due reward or punishment to the (g) 2. Tim. 4 7. Ro. 2 5. Sym. CoÌ„staÌ„ CoÌ„ Flor. Gen. 1 2. Ps 103 30. Iob. 24 13. Mat. 28 19. Io. 1 32. 14 16. 16 7. 1. Io. 5 7. Ro. 8 9. 2. Cor. 3 17 1. Cor. 6 15 3 16. Ps 50 12 Esa 11 1. Gal. 5 22. Ro. 5 5. workes of euery one 17 What doth the eight Article teache vs I beleeue in the Holy-Ghost IT specifieth the Holy-Ghost the thirde person in Deity who proceeding from the Father and the Sonne is true God coeternall coequal consubstantial to both to be worshipped with the same faith with equal honour adoration This is that paraclet teacher of truth that doth lighteÌ„ purifie sanctify the harts of beleeuers with his grace gifts coÌ„firme them in al holines This is the (a) Eph. 1 13 Ro. 8 26. 1 Cor. 12 11 pledge of our enheritance who helpeth our infirmity and diuideth to euery one according as he will his diuerse gifts 18 What addeth the ninth Article I beleeue in the holy Catholike Curch IT doth shew declare vnto vs the Church that is to say the (a). Mat. 5 15. Esa 6â— 1. 2 2. Psal 18 5. Aug. tract 1 in ep Ioa. de vnit Eccl. c. 16. et in Ps 30. Con. 2. Chrys ho 4. de Verb. Esaiae visible congregation of Christes faithful people for which the Sonne of God taking vpon him the nature of man did and suffered all thinges And first it teacheth that the same Church is (b). Io. 11 52. et 1â— 16 et 17 11. Cant. 6 8 1. Cor. 1 10 12 12.25 Ephes 4 3. Cypr. de sâ—p praelat Iren. l. 1. c. 3. Hier. ad Age râ—ch ep 11. c. 4 Chr. ho. 1. in 1. Cor. one and vniformall in faith in the Doctrine of faith and administration of Sacraments which vnder one onlie head Christ Iesus and one vicegerent (c) Cypr. de simp ep 55 69. Iren. lib. 3. c. 3. Hier. ad Damas ep 57. 58. Leâ— c. 89. ad Vien vpon earthe the chiefe Bishop is gouerned and kept in vnity Then it giueth vs to vnderstand that she is holy (d). Eph. 5.27 Cant. 4 7.1 Pet. 2 9 Aug. Eâ—ch c. 56. et in Ps 85. Ber. ser 3 in Vig. nat Greg. l. 35. mor. c. 6. Iren l. 3. c 40 Because Christ doth alwaies saÌ„ctify her by the holy ghost so that she is nâ—uer destitute or voyd of holy men holy lawes Neither can any man be partaker of any holinesse sanctificatioÌ„ that is not of her society congregation Thirdly that she is (e). Act. 1 8. Gen. 22 18. Mar. 16 15.20
fayth and beleefe hereof a good and patient man doth take solace and comforte in the greatest miseries that maye befall so that at the verye laste gaspe of life he will say (d) Iob. 19 25. I knowe that my Redeemer dothe liue in the laste day I shall rise from the earthe agayne be compassed aboute with my skinne and in my fleshe I shall see God Wise therfore certes and moste wise are those that doe bring into the seruitude of Iustice and (e) Col. 3 5. 1. Pet. 3.18 1. Cor. 9 27 Ro. 6 12. 1. Cor. 15 42. vertue these earthly dyeng meÌ„bers doe prepare this body as a pure vessell for the happy immortallity that is to come 21 What is the laste Article OF lyfe * 1. Cor. 2 9. Io. 17 3. Mat. 19 12.14.17.23.29 25 34 46 Apoc. 2 7. 10.17.26 3.11 21. 7 14. 21 2.10.23 22 1.12 Ro. 2 6. Tit. 1 1. â— 13. 3 7. 2. Tim. 4.7 1. Io. 2 25. 3 2. 1. Pet. 1 3. Ro. 6 22. euerlastinge which we may nothing doubt to remaine vnto the electe after theire deathe And this is the fruite finall end of Fayth Hope Patience Christianlike exercise For the obtayning of whiche life to a true beleeuer no worke of pietie ought to seeme difficulte no labour paynfull no greife bitter no time long or taedious in well working or sufferinge And if this life notwith-standinge that it is repleate with all manner of calamities be accouÌ„pted a thing moste choyse and delightfull how muche more is that life to be had in greate price and aestimation which is (a) Aug. de ciu Dei l. 22 c. 29 30. l. 3. de lib arb c. vlt. ser 64. de Ver. Do. â— 1 seq l. 3 de symb ad catech c. 12 so farre off from any feeling and feare of euill is replenished on euery syde with heauenlye and vnspeakeable ioyes pleasures and delights that neuer shall haue end Of whiche life Christe sayth thus (b). Luc. 12 32. Feare not litle flocke for it hath pleased your Father to giue you a Kingdome And at the latter day of iudgemente he will saye vnto the electe (c) Mat. 25 34. Come yee blessed of my father possesse you the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the worlde But vnto the wicked he will speake in this manner Get yee (d) Ibid. 46. away from me you cursed into fire euerlasting which was prepared for the Deuill and his Angels Which sentence doth not onelie touch (e) Fulg. in lib. de fide ad Pet. c. 38. 40. Heathens Heretickes Schismatickes publike sinners but appertaineth also to all those Christians that doe (f) Ez. 18 4. 33 8. Ro 6 23. Sap. 1 16. 1. Cor. 6 9. end their liues in mortall sinne Last of al this clause (g) Hier. ad Mared ep 137. AMEN is added in the end that it may plainly appeeare howe firmely and surely grounded we stand in the profession and testimony of this Christian Faith and Confession 22 Is it sufficient for a Christian to beleeue those thinges only that are contained in the Creede FIrst specially no doubt Heb. 5 12. 6 1. 1. pet 3 15. those thinges that are taught vs in the Creed of the Apostles are to be beleeued openly (a) Amb. l. 3 de Virg. Aug. l. 1 de symb ad Cat. c. 1. l. 2. cap. 1. professed of euery one Which also are made more plaine beeing conferred with the Creed of the FATHERS with that of ATHANASIVS Secondly a ChristiaÌ„ must of necessity beleeue whatsoeuer the (b). 2. Pet. 1 19. Ro. 15 4. 2. Tim. 3 15 diuine Canonical Scripture doth containe But the certaine (c) Conc. Tol. 1 c. 21. Aug. ser 129. 191 de temp Hic in sym ad Damas Aug. coÌ„ ep fund c. 5. Trid. Sess 4. legitimate books of Scripture no man may discerne by any other meanes than by the iudgement authority of the Church Thirdly hereunto doe belong those thinges that are necessarily drawen (d) Mat. 22 29. deduced partly out of the Articles of the Creede and partly out of holy Scriptures Fourthly lastly are all such documents to be holden as most holy to be firmely beleued which the holy ghost reuealeth vnto vs pronounceth by the (e) Cypr. ep 10. ad Nest Iren. l. 3. cap. 4. li. 4. c. 45. 63. Hier. con Lucif c. 4. Vinc. Lir. con Nouat Church whether they be commended vnto vs by writing or deliuered by tradition word of mouth Which point we will touch more at large hereafter These therefore are the things in which the true catholike faith doth coÌ„sist without the (f) Iâ—eo ser 4. de natiu Dom. which al sectaries do in vaine promise to theÌ„selues others grace saluatioÌ„ in christ THE SECONDE CHAPTER OF HOPE Aug. in Eâ—c cap. 8. 1. Cor. 13 13. Ro. 5 2. 8 24. Tit. 2 13. 3 7. 1. Pet. 1 3. 1. Io. 5 14. Iac. 1 3.5 Io. 14 13. 15 7.16 16 23. Mar. 11 24. Ps 26 13.14 129.6 72 28. 61 8.11 1. Tim. 4 10 1. Thes 5 8. Eph. 6 17. Heb. 10 35. 6 18. AND OVR LORDS PRAIER 1 What is Hope HOpe is a vertue infused by God whereby wee doe with assured trust confidence expect at Gods hande the good of our saluation life euerlasting To small purpose it is to beleeue in God and the word of God to professe the diuine Doctrine of holie Church vnlesse a Christian hauing once vnderstoode the goodnesse of Almighty God doe conceiue hope confidence of obtaining grace and aeternall saluation Which hope doth so fortifie vphold the iust man in the greatest (a) Eccli 34 15. Rom. 8 35. Psal 30 25. Prou. 28 1. miseries that although he be destitute of all wordly helpes yet will he confidently say (b) Iob. 13 15. Al-though he kill me yet will I hope in him And (c) ps 55 5. in God I haue hoped I wil not feare what fleshe may do vnto me (d) Ps 24 2. My God I trust in thee I will not be ashamed 2 By what meanes may a man come to haue this hope FIrst of al one great helpe heerunto is to (a) 1. Thes 5 16. Luc. 11 9. 18 1. Mat. 7 7. Eccli 18 22. pray feruently often to almighty God Also hope is to be nourished and stirred vp with dayly meditation of the goodnesse and benefites (b) Eph. 2 4. Tit. 3 3. Ro. 8 29. Io. 3 16. 1. Co. 4 9. Heb. 10 23. Tit. 1 2. Ro. 5 8.17.20 8 18. of God those especially which Christ our Lorde for his infinite charity towards vs performed promised euen to the vndeseruing Last of all there must be annexed (c) Pro. 15.15 1. Io. â— 21. Aug. l. 1.
she doth yet more (d) Gal 5 5. neerelye apprehend the goodnesse of Almightie God knowne now and conceiued by faith finally (e) Ro. 8 38. Io. 14 21.23 Ro. 13 8. Aug. in Enchir c. 7. by charitie she is ioined vnited vnto God and for God to her neighbour Now as concerning faith the Creed of the Apostles doth instruct vs in that it setteth before vs those thinges that are espeacially to be beleeued professed of euery Christian And of those things that are to be hoped praied for our Lords praier hath informed vs. Then vnto charitie doe those thinges belong which in the two Tables of the ten commandements are exhibited vnto vs. It is therfore a very notable saying of (f) in cap. 4. ep ad Rom. ORIGEN I doe thinke saith he that faith is the first beginning and the very foundation of saluation hope is the aduancement and encrease of the building but that charitie is the perfection toppe of the whole worke Happy then are they which (g) Luc. 11 28. Ro. 2 13. Luc. 6 46. Mat. 7 21.24 et 19 17. et 25 35. Io. 15 2. Mat. 10 22. et 24 13. heare and keepe the worde of God and they that knowe the will of the Father doe fulfill the same walking and perseuering in faith hope and charitie by the gouernment protection of Christ our Lorde And this truly for the scope of our intention is sufficient touching those chife and principall vertues which because they are infused by God and doe make mortall men become diuine are worthely called vertues Theologicall and are rightly referred to Christian wisedome 19 Is there any other thing that belongeth vnto Christian doctrine YEa verely for the doctrine of the Sacramentes doth expresly appertaine therunto that Christians may know what instrumentes as it were they haue neede of ordained by God for the obtaining exercising encreasing preseruing yea and also repairing of (a) Aug. in Io. Tract 120. faith and hope espeacially charitie Yea and moreouer very true it is that neither Christian wisdome nor Christian Iustice can be established or holden without Sacramēts as without the which all (b) Aug. l. 19 cont Faust c. 11. et de vera relig c. 17 et ep 118. cap. 1. Religion must needes be extinguished They therfore are of very great importance in Christian doctrine and very requisite it is that we handle them in particuler THE FOVRTHE CHAPTER OF THE SACRAMENTS 1 Why are Christians to be instructed about the Sacramentes BEcause the knowledge and vse of the Sacramentes doth bring to passe that Christians hauing by the merits of IESVS Christ receiued grace which is giuen by the (a) Tit. 3 5. Io. 3 5. et 6 51.55 et 20 23. Sacraments may be rightly exercised and preserued and set forward in diuine worshipe 2 What and of how many sortes is this diuine worshipe THat is called diuine worshipe which a Christian oweth and yeldeth as the highest (a) Aug. l. 10 de ciu c. 1. and chiefest seruice to God his creatour and Sauiour For there is no doubt but that for this cause (b) Pro. 16 4. Gen. 1 26. 2. Cor. 5 15. 1. Thess 5 9 1. Pet. 3 9. espeacially was man at the first made and afterwarde redeemed and vnto this wholly designed appointed that he might purely and perfitly serue and worship Almightie God Now diuine worshipe is of two sortes interiour exteriour The interiour by which we are in vnderstanding in will (c) Aug. in Ench. c. 2. 3. ioined vnto God is accōplished by faith hope and charitie as hath bene saide before The exteriour is a certaine profession of the interiour which we declare by certaine (d) Mat. 5 17. Ro. 12 17. 2. Cor 8 21.1 Cor. 14 40. outwatd visible signes ceremonies For God that hath no (e) Ps 15 2. 1. Tim. 6 15 Mat. 5 48. Gen. 2 7. neede of any good of ours as beeing of himselfe blessed wholly perfite yet as his pleasure was that the wholle man shoulde consist both of a body and a soule so doth he require the same againe (f) Pro. 16 14. Luc. 10 27. Mat. 22 37. Deut. 6 5. wholly to wit according to all and euery parte of him that he may by him be worshipped studiously sincerely first in soule according to the interiour worship as we haue declared and in (g) 1. Cor. 6 19. Ps 83 3. body according to the exteriour ioined with the interiour which is done many waies but principally and most profitablie by the vse of Sacramentes For so it hath seemed good to the wisdome of God to coapte it selfe to the imbecillitye of mortall men and to exercise his might and power by certaine externall things (h) Aug. in Ps 73. et l. 19 cont Faust c. 11. et l. 3. de doctri Christ c. 9. q. 84. in Leuit et 33. super Num. Tert. de resur carnis c. 8. Greg. in primum regum l. 6. c. 3. and signes that may be perceiued by the senses For our minde and soule immortall being inclosed in this obscure and brickle body as in a prison doth very much vse the seruice of the senses and without the (i) Chrysost ho. 60. ad Pop. Ant. et 83. in Mat. helpe of them she doth not commonly mount to the conceipt of heauenly thinges Therfore both in the olde and new lawe Sacramentes and many other things appertaining vnto exteriour worship haue bene by God ordained and alwaies by the people of God obserued 3 What is a Sacrament IT is an externall and visible signe of (a) Bern. ser de caen domini Aug. l. 10. ciu c. 5. l. 3. doct Chr. c. 9. Amb. l. 4. de Sacram. c. 4. Concil Flor. Trident. Sess 7. diuine and inuisible grace instituted by Christ that by it euery man may receiue the grace of God and sanctification And therfore they are not euery manner of signes that are called the Sacramentes of the Church but they are most certaine holy and effectual signes cōmended vnto Christians by Gods owne institution promise Signes (b) Aug. ep 23. et de catech rud c. 26. they are in that that by a certaine externall forme and similitude they doe represent declare vnto vs that which God by them worketh in vs inuisiblie and spiritually Certaine (c) Aug. in Psa 73. et 77 l. 19. cont Faust c. 11. 13. 16. they are most holy effectuall signes because that looke what grace they signifie they doe also infallibly containe cause the same to our sanctification For the Sacramēts for their owne partes as S. CYPRIAN (d) ser de caena dom speaketh can not be voide of that force and vertue that is proper vnto them nether doth the maiestie of God by any meanes absent it selfe from the mysteries though they (e) Aug. l. 3. cont Dona. c. 10. et l. 5. c.
remission or purging of their sinnes And as touching Faith they are vtterly destitute (d) Aug. tra 67. in Ioan. Leo. ser 4. de Nat. Dom. therof who not consenting with the Faith of the Church doe with a certaine vaine (e) See before of presumption pag. 315. confidence promise vnto themselues and others remission of sinnes and grace of Iustification through Christ But they that perseuering in the Faith and vnitie of the Church doe desire to bee deliuered from their sinnes haue many waies proposed vnto them in Scripture for the taking away of their (f) Orig. ho. 2. in Leuit. Aug. l. 2. cōt Cres cap. 12. Chry. Conc. 4. de Lazar. in finc ho. 6. in Io. sinnes amongest which the principall is the Sacrament of Penance Which beeing despised it is to no purpose to vse any (g) See before of the Sacrament of Penance pag. 196. other remedies for deadly sinnes For this hath Christ the Phisician of soules ordained not onely as a present but also as a necessary medicine to bee of force against any leaper of sin whatsoeuer commēding the same he hath said to the Priests Whose (h) Io. 20 22 sins you shall remit they are remitted them Secondlie sinnes are cleansed and purged by Almes because it is written Almes (i) Tob. 4 8. 12 8. Eccli 3 15.33 Pro. 13 8. 15 27. 16 6. Luc. 11 41. deliuereth from all sinne and from death and will not suffer a soule to goe into darkenesse Therefore the Prophet giueth this admonition (k) Dā 4 24 Esa 1 17.18 Heb. 13 16. See after of Almes Redeeme thy sinnes with Almes and thy iniquities with the mercies of the poore Thirdly sins are remitted when although wee haue beene neuer so much wronged yet we do forgiue our brother the offence our Lorde haueing saide If (l) Mat. 6 14. Luc. 6 37. Mar. 11 25. Eccli 28 2. you will forgiue men their offences your heauenly Father will forgiue you also your offences Fourthlye the same effecte is wrought whē by admonishing our brother that sinneth we doe winne him and bring him to amendment as it is written He (m) Iac. 5 20 which maketh a sinner to be conuerted from the error of his way shall saue his soule from death and couereth a multitude of sinnes Fiftely hereunto belongeth the aboundance of syncere Charitie which is very puissant mightie to obtain accōplishe al good things For which it is said of MARY MAGDALEN Many (n) Luc. 7 47 sinnes are forgiuen her because shee loued much For (o) Pro. 10 12. 1. Pet. 4 8. Charity couereth the multitude of sins Sixtly hereunto is auaileable the Sacrifice of a contrit (p) Ps 50 19. Luc. 18 13. Mat. 18 32. Eccli 21 1. hart which God neuer despiseth an humble knowledg of a mans selfe confession of his sins For our Lord hath respect (q) Psal 101 18. vpon the praier of the humble and doth not despise their petitions In somuch that hereupon holy DAVID also testifieth of him selfe (r) Psal 31 5. I haue saide I will confesse against my selfe my iniustice vnto our Lorde and thou hast remitted the impietie of my sinne And S. IHON generally to al that doe truely confesse promiseth this grace (s) 1. Io. 1 9. If we confesse our sinnes saith he he is faithfull and iust for to forgiue vs our sins to cleanse vs from all iniquitie Therefore the Niniuites (t) Ionae 3 5 Mat. 12 41. Luc. 11 32. 3. Reg. 21 29. Sap. 11 24. Cypr. ep 40.8.26 when they did earnestlye perseuer in workes of humilitie and Penance appeased the present wrathe of God and turned away the imminent destruction of their Cittie and cuntrey And therefore of them we reade it thus written God (v) Ione 5 10. Num. 25 11 Psal 105 30. sawe their workes because they were turned from their euill waies God tooke compassion of the euill which he had spoken that he would doe to thē did it not Thus finally we learne by the testimonie of holy Scripture that by (x) Pro. 10 2 Act. 8 22. 2. Cor. 7 10. these other meanes offices of true pietie done by the grace of Christ this effecte is wrought that the sinnes of faithfull penitents in the Church as wee saide before are purged and taken away in regard whereof the Apostle warneth Hauing (y) 2. Cor. 7 1. 2 Tim. 2 19.21 therefore these promises my dearest let vs cleanse our selues from all inquination of the fleshe and spirit perfiting sanctification in the feare of God And with no lesse vehemencie speaketh S. IAMES (z) Iac. 4 8. Ezec. 18 27. Cleanse saith he your handes you sinners purifie your hartes you double of minde Be miserable and mourne and weepe let your laughter be turned into mourning and ioy into sorow Be humble in the sight of our Lorde and he will exalte you For it is not sufficient for a man to amende his manners to leaue his misdedes that we may againe vse the wordes (a) Hom 50 ex 50. cap. 5. in Ench. cap. 70. Cypr. de lapsis in fine others as before of Satisfaction pag. 209. of S. AVGVSTINE Vnlesse by the sorow of penance by the sighings of humilitie and by the sacrifice of a contrite harte together with the cooperation of almes satisfaction he made to God for those thinges also that haue bene committed Otherwise who so shall knowe that any mortall sinnes doe beare sway in him as the same (b) Se◠41. de Sanctus Saint writeth except he worthely amende himselfe if he haue space doe penance along time and giue large almes refraine from the sinnes themselues he cannot be purged with that transtorie fire whereof the Apostle (c) 1. Cor. 5 15. Aug. lib 16. ex 50. Ench. ca. 67. de fid op ca. 16. quaest 1. ad Dulcitium hath spoken but shall be tormented without any redresse in the euerlasting flame For not deadly sinnes but litle sinnes are purged and clensed after this life 2 And what conceipte ought we to haue of litle sinnes Aug. Ench. cap. 78. li. 21. ciu 5.27 Isid lib. 2. de sum bo c. 18 THis surelie that such lighter sinnes as the wandering of the minde an idle worde immoderate laughter and such like which are called quotidian or veniall sinnes and without the which this life is not past ouer for in (a) Iac. 3 2. 1. Io. 1 8. Eccles 7 21. Pro. 24 16. Psal 31 6. many thinges we offend all as we also noted before although they are not deadly and do seeme litle in outward apparāce yet they are not to bee (b) Aug. de 10. chord c. 11. in Pse 129. ser 244. de tēp tr 12. in Ioan. contemned For somuch as they displease God or as S. PAVL speaketh they (c) Eph. 4 30 Chry. ho. 87. in Mat.
workes of Christi an Iustice procure VEry singuler certes and manifolde both in this life and in the life to come For hereunto belongeth that speach of S. PAVL Pietie (a) 1. Tim. 4. Pro. 11 17 18. 2. Par. 15 7. Mat. 10 41. 19 21.29 Gen. 12 1. 15 1. Eccli 12 2. 36 18. Hier. 31 16. is profitable to al things hauing promise of the life that now is of the life to come Then in an other place we finde it written (b) Sap. 3 10.17 Mal 3 14. 1. Cor. 15 58. Heb. 6 10. Of good labours there is glorious fruite 1 For first these workes proceding frō a liuely faith that is from a faith working by (c) Gal. 5. charitie are not only signs of Christian vocation but do also cōfirme make sure the same in vs. And therefore S. PETER the Apostle who in euery place exhorteth to good woorkes hath added this also (d) 2. Pet. 1. Cypr. ep 57. ad Corn. in fine Brethren labour the more that by good workes you may make sure your vocation election for doeing these thinges you shall not sinne at any time 2 Secondly they doe (e) 2. Cor. 9 10. Col. 1 10. 1. Pet. 2 2. augment grace in the beleeuers and doe perfitte sanctificatiō (f) 2. Cor. 7 1. Ro. 6 22. Apo. 22 11. Eccli 18 22. Trid. sess 6 cap. 10. as witnesseth the Apostle In so much that hereupon Saint IAMES also affirmeth that faith which doth worke with workes is also consummate by the same (g) Iac. 2 22. workes 3 Thirdly they engender (h) Io. 3 20. 1. Io. 4 17. Iac. 2 25. Gal. 6 4. a cōfidence of a good conscience and doe the more incourage to pray to obtaine any thing at Gods hand for it is written Almes shall be a great (i) Tob. 4. confidence before the high God to all them that doe the same And againe My (k) 1. Io. 3. Io. 15 7. Aug. in Praef in Psal 31. dearest if our heart doe not reprehend vs we haue confidence towards God And whatsoeuer we shall aske wee shall receiue of him because we keepe his commaundements and doe those things which are pleasing before him There is an example extant in EZECHIAS the King who hauing confidence in a good conscience and beeing approued therein by Gods owne voice said I beseech (l) Esa 38. 4. Reg. 20 3. Psal 7 9. 16 1. 17 21 25. et 25 1. 34 24. 131 1. thee o Lorde remember I pray thee how I haue walked before thee in truth and in a perfect harte and haue done that which is good in thy sight 4 Finally they doe cause that labouring in the (m) Mat. 20. Aug. tra 67. in Io. Greg. l. 4. dial c. 35 vineyarde of Christ we may receiue the day penie to wit the promised rewarde of life euerlasting and the crowne (n) 2. Tim. 4.8 Iac. 1 12. of Iustice which keeping the commandementes of God in the (o) Mat. 19 17. Church we doe in (p) Io. 3 21. 15 2.4 Christ (q) Eccli 16 15. Heb. 13 16. Sap. 3 5.6 2. Thess 1 5.6 Apoc. 3 4.5 Trid. sess 6. cap. 16. Cyp. de vnit Eccles Aug. ep 105. l. demorib Eccles Cathol cap 25. deserue Therefore our Lorde (r) Mat. 20. Sap. 5 16. saith Call the worke foulkes paie thē theire hiere Holy DAVID saith Thy (s) Psal 18. Heb. 11 6. Luc. 14 14. Col. 3.24 Ephes 6 8. 2. Cor. 4 17. Aug. in Psal 93. seruant kepeth them to wit the commandementes of God In keeping them much retribution And againe I haue (t) Psal 118. Mat. 19 12. Aug. in Psalm 120. inclined my harte to keepe thy iustifications for euermore because of retribution S. PAVL also saieth I haue (v) 2. Tim. 4. Aug. hom 14. ex 50. cap. 2. in Psal 83. 100. tract 3. in Io 2. Conc. Araus cap. 38. Mat. 5 12. 6 4.6.17 10 41. Apoc. 2 7.10.26 3 11. 14 13 fought a good fight I haue consūmate my course I haue kepte the faith Concerning the rest there is laide vp for me a crowne of iustice which our Lorde will render to me in that day a iust Iudge And not only to me but to them also that loue his comming Finally Christ himselfe saith If thou (x) Mat. 19. wilt enter into life keepe the commandementes And againe (y) Ioan. 5. Mat. 25 34. Aug. in Psal 49. They that haue done good things shall come forthe into the resurrection of life but they that haue done euill into resurrection of iudgement Then in an other place (z) Mat. ◠Hee that doth the will of my father which is in heauen he shall enter into the Kingdome of heauen By all which it is made very manifest how much it standeth euery one of vs vpon if we desire life euer lasting to ponder those speaches of almightie God (a) Apo. 2◠Eccli 18 22. He that is iust let him be iustified yet And let the holy be sanctified yet Beholde I come quickely and my rewarde is with me to render to (b) Ps 61 12 Mat. 16 27. Rom. 2 6. 1. Cor. 3 8. euery man according to his workes Therefore doing (c) Gal. 6. Eccli 51 58. Aug. in Psa 111. q. 4. ad Dulcitiū good let vs not faile for in due time we shall reape not failing 3 How many kindes of good woorkes be there wherein Christian Iustice is cheifly seene and exercised Petr. Chrysol ser 43. Leo. ser 1. et 4. de ieiun 10. mensis Bern. in sentētiis sect 11 THere are three kindes as wee finde in holy scripture to wit Praier Fasting and Almes For other good deedes for the most parte which doe proceed of a liuely faith and doe sette forthe increase and consummate Christian iustice are easelye reduced (a) Aug. de perf iust c. 8. respons 17. to these three fountaines Heereupon was that notable speache of the Angell RAPHAEL Praier is (b) Tob. 12. good with Fasting and Almes more than to hoorde vp treasures of golde And Saint AVGVSTINE saith plainly (c) In Ps 42. This is the iustice of a man in this life Fasting Almes and Praier Of this doth Christ seuerally intreate in S. MATHEVVES Gospell (d) Mat. 6. addeth promises of the heauenly reward prepared for those who within the Church without hypocrisie (e) Aug. ser 60. de temp doe syncerelye Fast Praie and giue Almes Hence is that faithfull promise so often repeted Thy Father (f) Mat. 6. which seeth in secrete will repaie thee And these be the very things wherein Christ to the intente that we may liue well and happely woulde haue (g) Mat. 5 21. our iustice to abound and so to shine (h) Ibid. ver 17. before men that they may see our good workes glorifie the Father To the performance of
God Aug. sent 313. Prosp and to haue truely deserued life euerlasting to be possessed also in the due time if they departe out of this world in grace Forasmuch as CHRIST our Sauiour saith Io. 4 b He that shall drinke of the water that I will giue him shall not thirst for euer but it shall become in him a fouÌ„taine of water springinge vp vnto life euerlasting So neither our owne proper iustice as proper from our selues is established neither are we ignorant of the iustice of God or doe reiect the same For that which is called our iustice because by it being inherent in vs we are iustified that very same iustice is the iustice of God because it is by God infused into vs through the merit of Christ. Neither is this to be omitted that although there be so much attributed to good workes in holy scripture that euen vnto him Mat. 10 d that shall giue a cuppe of colde water to one of his little ones Christ doth promise that he shall not loose his rewarde the 2. Cor. 4 d Apostle witnesseth that the tribulation which presentlie is momentanie and light worketh aboue measure exceedingly an eternall weight of glorie in vs yet God forbid that a ChristiaÌ„ man should either Aug. de Praed sanct ca. 5. de grat lib. arbit cap. 6. trust or 1. Cor. 1 d 2. Cor. 10 d glory in himselfe not in our Lord whose goodnesse is such towards all men that hee will haue those thinges to bee their Coelest l. ep 1. can 11. Aug. in Ench. c. 107. ep 105. de gratia et lib. arbit cap. 6. Gennad lib. de Eccles dogmat c. 32. merites which are his giftes And because Iac. 3 a all of vs offend in many things euery one ought to haue as mercy goodnesse so also seueritie and iudgement before his eies no man iudging himselfe although 1. Cor. 4 a he be not guilty in conscience of any thing because the wholl life of man is to be examined and iudged not by the iudgement of man but of God who Ibidem will lighten the hidden thinges of darkenesse and will manifest the counsailes of the hartes and then the praise shal be to euery man of God who as it is written Mat. 16 d Rom. 2 a Psal 61 b will render to euerie man according to his workes Laus DEO Virginique Matri MARIAE The Translatour to the Reader HITHERTO gentle Reader haue I performed the part of a Translatour howe faithfully and soundly thy selfe shall iudge Yet this will I promise of my selfe that there hath not wanted that diligence which in Translating a worke of matters of CATHOLICKE Doctrine abounding with so many places of Scripture or rather compacte of words and sentences of Scriptures and Fathers in so short a Volume setting downe the whole summe of our RELIGION is in anie Learned mans iudgement necessary Nowe whereas I haue founde in the running ouer this notable worke some fewe questions either not touched at all or not so throughly handled as the necessity of our COVNTREY doth require I haue heere thought good with as much breuity as the thinges will permitte and according to my simple skill in DIVINITIE to addresse thee the same that thou hauing as it were in one Posie each pleasaunt flowre contained maiest be prepared against all manner of pestilent vapours which in so vnsauorie an aire thou maiest meete withall Thy part it shal be that as with the going forewarde of this worke my desire of thy spirituall good hath increased so thou also doe continue if not increase the gratefull acceptance of my labours AN EXPOSITION OF CERTAINE QVESTIons not handeled in this Booke I. Of Hallowed and Sanctified Creatures vsed in the Church II. Of Pilgrimage vnto holy places III. Of Indulgences or Pardons IIII. Of Seruice and Praier in the Vulgar tongue Euery one diuided into certaine Articles in which are also expounded diuerse other Controuersies belonging to the better vnderstanding of the principall Question OF HALLOWED AND SANCTIFIED CREATVRES IN GODS CHVRCH 1 Is there any creature holier than another ALthough all sanctitie and holines be principally in God himselfe yet from him as from a most plentifull fountaine of all goodnes doth also spring and flowe holines into his creatures first into his reasonable creatures who onlie may by his grace be made his liuely meÌ„bers and so be endowed with true holines and than both the Sacramentes by which hee worketh his grace whatsoeuer thing hath any speaciall relation or order vnto the holinesse which is in God or in his creatures may iustly and truely be called holie And concerning the sanctification of the members of Christs mystical body and the holines of his Sacramentes by which we are sanctified to euerlasting life enough hath beene said before in this wholle booke but of the holines of other creatures religiouslie deputed in the Church for our spirituall good we meane here briefly to intreate and namely of Holy daies Holy water Hallowed Palmes Ashes Oyle and finally of Hallowed places 2 Is not the different estimation of daies contrarie to holy Scriptures NO verely for we account some daies holier than other by the example of God himselfe who sanctified the Gen 2 3 Sabaoth commanded also the same to be hallowed by Exod. â—0 1 his people with many other daies which he calleth holy soleÌ„ne and venerable daies yea the people of God did not only Religiously obserue these daies but also vpon new occasions of singuler benefites receiued from God they instituted newe Feasts deuoutely obserued the same As wee reade of the Feast instituted by Esth 9 27 Mardocheus the dedicatioÌ„ 1. Mach. 4 56. ordained by Iudas Machabeus honored by our Io. 20 22 Sauiours owne presence Neither doth this differeÌ„ce of daies so long as it is not obserued according to the ceremonious figures of the Iewes which are nowe expired nor according to the vaine and superstitious obseruation of the Gentiles which Ro. 14 5. Gal. 4 10. Col. 2 16. vide Theod. Theoph. Orig. Amb. Oecum Primas Ansel in Ro. 14. Hier. lib. 2. in Iouin Amb. in Gal 4. Aug. Enchir c. 79. ep 119. c. 7. the Apostle condemneth euen in the newe Law of grace repugne against the Lawe of God yea it is agreeable to holy Scriptures and according to the continuall practise of the Church So doe we see in steed of the Iewes Sabboth the Act. 20 16. ibid. Chrysost Beda 1. Cor. 16 2. ibidem Chry Amâ— Theoph. aliâ— Apoc. 1 10. et ibi omnes interpretes Clem. can 65. Apost Ignat. ad Magnes Iust apol 2. Tert. de cor mil. apol c. 16. CleÌ„ Alex l. 7. stroÌ„ Orig. ho. 7. in Exod. Athan. ho. in illud Omnia mihi tradita sunt Amb. ep 83. Hier. in Gal. 4. Aug. lib. cont Adim cap. 16. Greg. lib. 11. epist 3. Leo. epist 81. Hylar praefat in Psal Sunday to haue beene brought in and alwaies obserued
were not forbiddē True it is that 1. Cor. 10 11. euery thing happened vnto the Iewes in figure for asmuch as the wholle state of that people was figuratiue of things to come but the principall ende of these iudicial Lawes was the peaceable politicke gouerment of theire countrey so vsed by vs with that intent and not to figure Christ as to come or accepted as from Moises his autoritie now abolished as wee haue saide they are no doubt lawful good Thus much of the iudiciall Lawes But among the ceremonial Laws some indeed there were which had no other relation to signifi e Religion but only in respecte Aug. ep 19 ad Hier. of Christ to come as circūcision Sancta Sanctorum bloodie sacrifices which signified the deathe of Christ and the circumcision of our hartes which he by his bloode was to procure And these to practise and allow is most detestable Gal. 5 2. a disanulling of the faith of Christ Other ceremonies ther were which although they might in that people signifie thinges to come in the lawe of Grace yet this was not theire proper nature but onely in respect that they were in that people whos state was nothing but a figure For of theire owne nature Vide Leonem ser 7. de ieiun 7 mensis they had in them selues a morall goodnesse and did signifie a subiection toward God and gaue ornament comelinesse to his seruice And these so long as they be not taken as binding by the force of the olde Lawe but only brought from thence as proportionable both to the naturall duety wee owe to God and fitte for the better order in matters of religion which S. Paul commendeth 1. Cor. 14 40. may be and alwaies haue bene vsed in the Church Such are the ceremonies of Churches Aultars Candells continuallye burning in the Churches Offeringes Churching of womē abstaining from seruile workes vpon the Sondaye for in this respect of working that Commandemēt was ceremonious For certain it is that we may honor God although wee worke And so we see among Christians that ceremony not to be kept in such rigour as it was by the Iewes because the Church renuing that ceremonie onely forbiddeth seruile works but not trauailing nor riding and consequently not the labour of beastes and such like To conclude all therfore in fewe wordes the Aug. ep 8.9.19 Hier. ep 89. Lawe of the Iewes in as much at it is Ceremonial and Iudiciall is Mortua that is Dead for to vse the word of holy doctors for that it bindeth not But it is not Mortifera perniciosa that is deadly or bringing death to those which vse the particular Lawes therof but in respect of such ceremonies which are not founded in the very Law of nature but only instituted either by Moises or before his time to signifie Christ as yet to come Such are not kneling in praier lifting vp of hands or eies knocking of the breasts and finallye that which wee spoke of Voweing Offering Which may euidently be proued for that it was the generall custome of all nations in which hath at any time beene the honour of the true God is read in the Scripture to haue beene vsed by Gen. 28 20. Iacob before Moises And for more confirmation of this let it bee considered howe the very Apostles of Christ retained Act. 15. necessarily imposed vpon Christians the Ceremony of abstaining from bloode and strangled yet not to be obserued as hauing the force of a Lawe from Moises whereas they expresly say that themselues impose it But only for a charitable knitting See Saint Augustine and Saint Hierome of this matter togither of the Gentiles and Iewes who for their long custome at that beginninge would abhorre those meates which they had before esteemed as vncleane Lette it therefore remaine that these things aboue spoken of neither are Iewish ceremonies but common to al true Religions of all ages if they had bene Iewish yet might they hauing no necessarie signification of our redemption as to come be holesomely instituted and commaunded by Christ his Church S. Tho. par 3. qu. 60 artic 3. I say of our Redemption to come For we in our Ceremonies and Sacramentes for the most parte haue three manner of significations of thinges past of thinges present and of thinges to come Our sacramēts signifie the death of Christ as past the grace of God by them presently wrought in our soules and euerlasting glory the effect of Gods grace which in time shal be reuealed in vs. So CANDELS burning in the Church euen in the day-time especially at the Gospel doe signifie the light of the Gospell Io. 1 brought into the worlde by Christ the light of grace shining in the hearts of the liuely members of Christ and the euerlasting light of Heauen So Holy-water putteth vs in minde of the washing away of our sinnes by Christ his death applied vnto vs in BAPTISME signifieth the present washing of our Soule which wee ought to procure by contrition of hart the perfecte washing away of al filthes when God shal bring vs being purged from all iniquity into Apoc. 21 27. Psal 23 4. 14 2. his holy place where none can be receiued but hee that hath innocent handes and a cleane heart So may wee discourse of other holye ceremonies vsed in Gods Church And it is no maruell though in our state we haue some figure of things to come For 1. Cor. 13 10. wee haue not as yet attained to that which is perfect but onely to that which is in part nowe we walke by Faith and as it were wee see by a glasse in a darke sort but not yet in likenesse face to face Wherefore Christ himselfe by his rest in the Sepvlcher signified the rest of Heauen although the Sabbath bee taken away yet haue we the celebration of the Sunday Aug. lib. 22 ciu c. 30. ep 119. signifying the blessednesse of Heauenly rest The reason of this is because of all those things which Christ caused and deserued by his Passion some are nowe fulfilled as the price of our redēption the benefits of Gods grace Faith Hope such like things but yet ther remaineth the principall which is Iudgement Glory Wherefore meete it was that those Ceremonies which signified all those things as to come should ceasse and othere should be ordained which might both signifie the benefites already obtained and nourishe our hope with the representing of the good thinges to come which being once had all ceremonies shall cease As S. Ihon did insinuate Apo. 21 22. vnto when he said And a Temple I sawe not in it for our Lord God Omnipotent is the Temple of it and the Lambe And those which now mislike the Churches ceremonies and orders vnlesse they repent which God graunt shall not onely be without ceremonies but with out all order with Iob 10 22 sempiternall horror and confusion V What testimonie haue wee of Candells burning